EIA Electric Power Monthly - Updated March 2026

Electricity Rate per kWh in 2026

US average residential, updated monthly from EIA

18.56c/kWh

U.S. AVERAGE RESIDENTIAL - March 2026

Source: EIA Electric Power Monthly Table 5.6.A. Last verified March 2026.

Cheapest

11.95¢

Most Exp.

42.23¢

Avg Bill

$150

/month

US avg: 18.56c/kWh - lowest: North Dakota 11.95c - highest: Hawaii 42.23c - Updated March 2026

Bill Calculator

Your state

Monthly usage (kWh)

US Average

$177/month

18.56c/kWh x 900 kWh + $10 fixed = $177.04

Full calculator with TOU and commercial modes ->

51

States + DC Covered

13

Major Utilities

18 + DC

Deregulated States

March 2026

Data Updated

Rate by Sector - March 2026

US averages from EIA Electric Power Monthly. Commercial and industrial rates are lower per kWh but bills can be much larger due to volume and demand charges.

Residential

18.56c/kWh

869 kWh avg/month

Commercial

13.92c/kWh

Business + offices

Industrial

8.58c/kWh

Large facilities

TOU Peak (CA)

45-65c/kWh

4pm-9pm on PG&E

Electricity Rates by State (2026)

Click any state for detail including utility breakdown, deregulation status, and bill estimate. March 2026 EIA data. Full heatmap + rankings ->

All 51 States ->

Hover or tap a state to see its electricity rate. Click to view full detail.

Low

HighSorted cheapest to most expensive

5 Cheapest States

North Dakota11.95¢

Idaho13.01¢

Nebraska13.10¢

Utah13.17¢

Iowa13.42¢

5 Most Expensive States

Hawaii42.23¢

California33.35¢

Connecticut30.47¢

Massachusetts30.21¢

Rhode Island29.91¢

Major US Electric Utilities (2026)

Top utilities by residential customer count. Rates from most recent tariff filings. All 13 utilities ->

California

PG&E

35.12¢/kWh

31.87¢/kWh

40.23¢/kWh

26.87¢/kWh

SEASONAL - 3.4M customers

Detail ->

New York

National Grid

22.14¢/kWh

FLAT - 3.6M customers

Detail ->

Massachusetts

Eversource Energy

28.97¢/kWh

SEASONAL - 3.7M customers

Detail ->

North Carolina

Duke Energy

13.47¢/kWh

SEASONAL - 7.9M customers

Detail ->

Florida

FPL

16.41¢/kWh

SEASONAL - 5.7M customers

Detail ->

Time-of-Use Rates: 4pm-9pm Costs 2-3x More

California mandated TOU as the default rate plan for new residential customers since 2024. On PG&E's E-TOU-C plan, peak rates run $0.45-$0.65/kWh while off-peak (midnight-3pm) falls to $0.20-$0.25/kWh.

24-Hour Rate Guide (PG&E E-TOU-C)

Off-peak 12am-3pm (~22c) Partial 3-4pm / 9pm-12am Peak 4-9pm (~58c)

EV owners charging after 9pm save $20-50/month. Run your dishwasher and dryer after 9pm. Pre-cool your home before 4pm.

Full TOU guide with calculator ->

US Electricity Rate History (2020-2026)

13.15c

2020

13.66c

2021

15.04c

2022

16.00c

2023

16.48c

2024

17.30c

2025

18.56c

2026

Rates rose 23% from 2022 to 2026 (15.04c to 18.56c). EIA forecasts continued 3-5%/year through 2027. Full history and forecast ->

Why Rates Rose 8.6% in the Past Year

1. Natural gas prices stayed elevated as the marginal generation fuel
2. Data center + EV demand grew 6%+, pulling capacity prices higher
3. Grid modernization rate cases at PG&E, ConEd, Eversource, Dominion

Full explainer: bill components + state variation ->

Deregulated States

Can You Shop for a Better Rate?

18 states plus DC allow you to choose your electricity supplier. Texas has 100+ providers on PowerToChoose.org. Pennsylvania and Ohio offer official comparison portals. Savings of 10-20% are common in deregulated markets.

TXPAOHILNJNYMACTMDRINHMEDEMIVADC

See the Deregulated States Map ->

Solar Break-Even

Is Solar Worth It in Your State?

The federal 30% ITC expired 31 December 2025. 2026 solar payback math is different - no credit on residential rooftop. In high-rate states (CA, MA, HI, NY), payback runs 6-9 years. In low-rate states (ND, LA, ID), 12-15+ years.

6-9 yr

CA/MA/HI

9-12 yr

NY/CT/NJ

12-15+ yr

ND/ID/LA

Full 2026 solar payback by state ->

Calculators and Tools

Five interactive tools, all using current EIA state rates. No email required, runs entirely in your browser.

Residential

Bill Calculator

Estimate your monthly bill by state + kWh. Residential, commercial, and TOU modes.

Bill-shock

Bill Diagnostic

Paste your bill + kWh. Tool tells you whether the spike is rate-driven, usage-driven, or both.

EV owner

EV Charging Cost

38 EVs × 51 states × 3 charging modes. EPA-verified efficiency. Annual gas comparison.

Business

Demand Charge Calculator

Commercial bills include a demand charge that's 20-40% of the total. Calculate yours + peak-reduction savings.

Homeowner

Solar Break-Even

State-by-state solar payback at 2026 rates, NEM 3.0 aware. With and without federal ITC.

TOU plans

Time of Use Rates

Per-utility peak/off-peak schedules. EV-friendly plans (PG&E EV2-A, SCE TOU-D-PRIME, ConEd).

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average electricity rate per kWh in the US in 2026?+

The US average residential electricity rate is 18.56 cents per kilowatt-hour (c/kWh) as of March 2026, according to the EIA Electric Power Monthly. This is up from 15.04c/kWh in 2022 - a 23% rise in four years. The US average commercial rate is 13.92c/kWh and industrial is 8.58c/kWh. Rates vary significantly by state: from 11.95c in North Dakota to 42.23c in Hawaii.

Which state has the cheapest electricity per kWh?+

North Dakota has the cheapest electricity at 11.95c/kWh as of March 2026, followed by Idaho (13.01c), Nebraska (13.1c), Utah (13.17c), Iowa (13.42c), Missouri (13.44c). The lowest-rate states share common traits: abundant hydroelectric power (Pacific Northwest), cheap natural gas (Gulf Coast), wind power (Plains states), and low transmission costs from low population density.

Why is electricity so expensive in Hawaii?+

Hawaii pays 42.23c/kWh - roughly 2.3 times the US average - because each Hawaiian island operates as an isolated grid with no mainland power connection. Hawaii Electric (HECO) burns imported petroleum to generate roughly 80% of the state's electricity. The logistics of shipping fuel oil across the Pacific adds $0.15-$0.25/kWh in fuel cost alone. Combined with HECO's rate-base recovery for infrastructure on multiple islands and the 2026 rate case increases, Hawaii stands alone as the most expensive electricity in the US by a wide margin.

What is a time-of-use (TOU) electricity rate?+

A time-of-use rate charges different prices depending on when you use electricity. Peak hours (typically 4pm-9pm when demand is highest) cost more - PG&E's E-TOU-C peak rate runs $0.45-$0.65/kWh. Off-peak hours (overnight and midday when solar production is abundant) are cheaper at $0.20-$0.25/kWh on PG&E. California has made TOU the default rate plan for new residential customers. EV owners who charge overnight can save $20-50/month by shifting usage to off-peak hours.

Can I shop for a better electricity rate?+

Yes - if you live in one of the 18 deregulated states plus DC. Texas has mandatory retail choice with 100+ providers on PowerToChoose.org. Pennsylvania, Ohio, Illinois, New Jersey, New York, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and several other states allow you to choose your electricity supplier. The local utility still delivers the power; only the generation charge is competitive. In Texas, fixed-rate plans from 11-13c/kWh are available. In regulated states (California, Florida, most of the South), you cannot switch suppliers but can optimize through TOU plans or solar.

How do I calculate my electricity bill?+

Your electricity bill has three main components: (1) Energy charge: your monthly kWh times the per-kWh rate. At the US average of 18.56c/kWh with 869 kWh typical usage, that is $161.29. (2) Fixed customer charge: typically $5-$15/month regardless of usage. (3) Taxes and riders: state and local taxes plus utility surcharges (typically 5-15% total). Use our bill calculator at /bill-calculator for a state-specific estimate with current EIA rates.

Why are electricity rates rising in 2026?+

US electricity rates rose 8.6% year-over-year through March 2026. Three main drivers: (1) Natural gas prices stayed elevated as the primary marginal generation fuel through winter 2025-2026. (2) Data center and EV load grew 6%+ year-over-year in PJM and ERCOT regions, pushing capacity prices higher. (3) Major utilities filed multi-billion-dollar rate cases for grid modernization - PG&E, ConEd, Eversource, and Dominion all received rate increases for storm hardening, undergrounding, and battery storage. The EIA Short-Term Energy Outlook (April 2026) projects continued 3-5% annual increases through 2027.

What is the average monthly electric bill in the US?+

The US average residential electric bill is $150/month (EIA 2025 annual data: total residential revenue divided by customer count), on 869 kWh average monthly consumption. At the latest monthly rate of 18.56c/kWh (March 2026), the same usage costs about $161. Bills vary widely by state: low-usage, moderate-rate states like Utah average around $100/month, while Hawaii's extreme rate and hot high-usage states like Texas and Florida push averages well above the national figure.

How We Got These Numbers

National and state averages: EIA Electric Power Monthly Table 5.6.A - Average Retail Price of Electricity by State and Sector. Published monthly. Last verified: March 2026.

Utility rates: Individual utility tariff schedules (PG&E E-TOU-C, SCE TOU-D, SDG&E TOU-DR1, ConEd SC-1, National Grid NY/MA, Eversource MA/CT/NH, Duke Energy, FPL, Georgia Power, Dominion Energy, Xcel Energy, ComEd, HECO). Last verified March 2026.

Deregulated state information: State public utility commission websites and the National Conference of State Legislatures electric choice status tracker.

TOU rates: CPUC-approved tariff schedules filed by PG&E, SCE, and SDG&E. NY PSC filings for ConEd. MA DPU filings for Eversource.